Step closer
PLANS to develop a Skelmersdale town centre have taken a major step forward. West Lancashire Borough Council has agreed to grant more power to the borough’s director of development and regeneration John Harrison, who has now been given authority “to take all necessary steps to enable a Phase 1 scheme to proceed”.
Building work is now expected to begin within the next few months.
The Phase 1 scheme will include the building of a Lidl supermarket, a large B&M store and other smaller units, while the development will also see extensive improvements made to existing infrastructure.
These include creating a new pedestrian link between the college and the Concourse Shopping Centre, as well as enhancements to the public areas outside the library and Nye Bevan Pool.
The vote comes on the back of the council securing £2m in funding from the Lancashire Enterprise Fund (LEP) Growth Fund, which will be spent solely on the Skelmersdale Town Centre project. Meanwhile, the council has also allocated £100,000 from the Strategic Investment Reserve to cover any additional legal and other project expenses.
Council leader Cllr Ian Moran said: “For many years we have been promised the delivery of Skelmersdale town centre but I, along with thousands of others across the town, have been frustrated at the length of time we have had to wait.
“However, having secured the funding and planning permission, I am pleased that councillors across the chamber agreed to fund the eventual delivery.
“We have worked hard to get to this point, despite many false dawns in the past, and with the £2m secured from the Lancashire Enterprise it is now time to get the construction of Skelmersdale town centre under way.
“I look forward to seeing the building work under way in the coming months.”